2025 ACAC Runners of the Year
Edmonton, AB (October 28, 2025) –
Female Runner of the Year | ASHLEE WALKER | Concordia Thunder:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Ashlee Walker of the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder has been selected as the 2025 ACAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Walker delivered an exceptional season, establishing herself as one of the conference’s top competitors. She captured first place at Grand Prix #1 hosted by Concordia with a time of 24:35, followed by a second-place finish at Grand Prix #3 hosted by NWP in 21:51. She then reclaimed the top spot at Grand Prix #4 with a 24:19 performance. Walker capped off her dominant season at the ACAC Cross Country Running Championships hosted by the NWP Wolves in Grande Prairie, where she earned gold with a time of 23:22 — officially qualifying for the CCAA National Championships in Prince Edward Island on November 8th.
“Ashlee’s consistency, discipline, and competitive drive have made her a standout not only in our program but across the entire conference,” said Concordia University of Edmonton Athletic Director Nate MacLellan. “Her leadership and work ethic set the standard for our Thunder runners, and we’re incredibly proud to see her recognized as the ACAC Runner of the Year.”
A second-year Bachelor of Arts student from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Walker continues to build an impressive collegiate running career. Her dedication to the Thunder cross country program and her steady progression since joining the team have made her one of the most promising distance runners in the ACAC.
This prestigious award was recognized at the 2025 ACAC Running Room Cross-Country Championship hosted by Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie, AB.
The Runner of the Year award is proudly sponsored by the Running Room. Thank you for your continued support Running Room!
Male Runner of the Year | NATHAN WOYESSA | SAIT Trojans:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Nathan Woyessa of the SAIT Trojans has been selected as the 2025 ACAC Male Runner of the Year.
Coming off an impressive sophomore season, capped off by earning the title of CCAA National Champion, Nathan managed to embrace the pressure and produce another stand out ACAC season. Winning every race that he entered this year, Nathan leads the pack quietly, but quickly.
“Last year, Nathan was named the SAIT Trojans Athlete of the Year, and he is out here proving why. There’s no doubt about it; Nathan is fast. Both on and off the course, Nathan is quietly focused & let’s his performance do the talking. We are proud to call him a Trojan. Congratulations Nathan!” – Lauren Kucera
Nathan is a Calgary Native in the Bachelor of Technology – Software Development program at SAIT.
This prestigious award was recognized at the 2025 ACAC Running Room Cross-Country Championship hosted by Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie, AB.
The Runner of the Year award is proudly sponsored by the Running Room. Thank you for your continued support Running Room!
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca